The San Antonio Spurs defeated Milwaukee Bucks (144-118) on Friday, January 31 but the big point of the match was Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Paul go head to head.
What did Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo had to say?
After the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo mentioned that he wasn't sure how he fell in the fourth quarter while being guarded by Chris Paul.
I think it was a physical play, I don't know, I gotta watch the tape. I don't know if I tripped or I was pushed, Antetokounmpo said.
He was then asked about his reaction against Paul and Antetokounmpo gave a blunt response that if he's tried, then he will respond accordingly.
If you try me, you're going to get that different side of me. At the end of the day, I think we're all men, we all respect one another. If words cross the line, then there's gotta be consequences, Antetokounmpo added.
I really don't say much, I try to play the game the right way, but enough is enough. If I feel like you're putting my livelihood and my career and my body in jeopardy, enough's enough brother. I have a family to feed. And what makes you laugh can also make you cry sometimes, Antetokounmpo concluded.
The verbal spat started when Antetokounmpo fell while driving to the basket with just under four minutes left on the clock. After falling to the ground, Antetokounmpo pointed straight at Paul, accusing him of pushing. The matter heated up as both the stars exchanged words with the coaches and players getting involved.
After the game concluded, Antetokounmpo didn't leave the court as he had a heated verbal spat with Chris Paul. This is not the first time that Antetokounmpo and Paul have gone against each other. The same happened in the last encounter in January when Paul pushed Antetokounmpo during a play as the Spurs veteran received a foul.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's double-double effort falls short against Chris Paul's San Antonio Spurs
The Friday match saw the Spurs defeat the Bucks comprehensively. Giannis Antetokounmpo's double-double effort of 35 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and a block fell short as the Bucks lost their second consecutive loss.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for the Spurs with a double-double of 30 points, 14 rebounds, one assist and six blocks. Chris Paul also chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, nine assists and a steal to his name.
The Spurs are currently 12th in the Western Conference with a record of 21-24. On the other hand, Bucks are placed fourth in the standings with a record of 26-20.